Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-10

gressive and nowhere in all the western states
does the spirit of progress more clearly show
itself than it toes in the state of Kansas.
The marvellous progress that may be seen On
every hand and in all portions of this truly
great commonwealth is not equaled by any
other state or territory west Of the murky
Missouri 1t would seem as though all the
energetic business men Of the east were find
ing Judgment within her borders. The spirit
of enterprise possessed by their fathers is
clearly shown In the great caravan which is
daily moving westward. The great delusion
that the treeless plain, what was known as
the Great American Desert, where rains
were seldom known and vegetation did not
exist, have been fully dispelled. Instead of
its being barren plain it has become one Of
the most productive regions OF the far west.
The annual rainfall which in former years
fell upon the parched surface and ran off
into ravines and thence carried to the rivers
which helped TO swell the great Gulf Of Mex
leo have been overcome and made to do ser
vice on the very soil on which it fell, where
kind providence intended 1t should fall and
do good, and it was only for man to take ad-
vantage of the moisture thus given him for
the production of cereals, or he might seem
to stand in need Of how to utilize the rain
that was SO generously bestowed upon this
great plain, was the question to be decided.
1t was found that as far back as 1875 the av-
earliest data that could be given by the sig
nal service for the plains of western Kansas
that two thirds OF the annual rain fell dur
ing the four growing months OF the J ear.
May, June, July and August, while the
months of April and September gave about
one-half of the remainder. Now here APP
peared sufficient rainfall to raise any kind of
crop in soil that needs less rain than any
other soil known, on account of it's peculiar
qualities to retain moisture. The old theory
that the rain belt is gradually moving west
ward is entirely disprOved when no account
is taken of the cultivation OF the soil. In a
word, the rain belt extends to the point
where the plow stops, and to further illus
trate, it is simply the absorption of the rain
that would seem to have increased the mOis-
ture that may now be noticed on every hand
on tho western plains; the break
ing up of the soil, the blowing and
cultivatiug of the land has made the soil
susceptible of absorbing all the water that
falls on mother earth, which as before stated
found no Judgment this side of the gulf, with
the ABSORPTION OF the average Of twenty-one
inches of rain for the period Of five years
would give one hundred and five inches of
water, on broad e1panse of country that
before this changed condition Of things
would absorb less III 1t one-fourth Of the rain.
Prior to the introduction of the<piOw, to oar
mind the ram fall has not materially in
creased or lessoned, yet by reason of THIS alb
sorption a change of climate has been
brought about that could scarcely be ac-
counted for in any otheS manner. 1t is
simply an increase OF moisture created by the
ABSORPTION process. A morning dew on the
plain seven or more years ago was something
unknown, neither did we experience it until
we stopped this great waste of water from
leaving the soil for which it was intended
and the remedy was as stated, the breaking
up of the soil ard retaining it Such are the
changes that have been wrought and shown
up the proGuctiyeness Of country that was
thou 1T to be barren waste. Millions of acre 6
have thus been brought within the agricul-
tural district of the far west
and made TO produce bountiful crops, and
no where has this fact been more thoroughly
than in Ford county, which IS
one of the largest in the state and q county
tat offers cheaper lands than any surround
ing it, with a soil equal to any in the state,
aud accessible to the best market west Of the
Missouri river.
The Ford County immigration society Of
Dodge City, Kansas, is Offering superior in
ducements to the farmers Of the east in the
way OF cheap lands and homes for the home
less which can lie secured at a very moderate
price. ali inquiries as regards Ford county
or Dodge City, the capital of the county, the
OF the soil, will be readily an
swered 10y James III. Hastings, Dodge City,
Kansas.
Write him and 1earn moro ahoa. the west |
and the many advantages it today presents. |
9.-lt